Vinayaka Chaturthi
Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam
Indian culture believes in the concept of pantheism - God
can be identified with all the forces of nature and with all
natural things. That is why our ancients worshipped even
inanimate things like trees. People worship snakes and
elephants and our Indian mythology speaks volumes to testify
this fact.

Among the Indian gods and goddesses, Vinayaka is given the
prime place. Vinayaka has an elephant head and the body of a
human. How Vinayaka assumed such a form is explained in the
scriptures. Please read on for details …

Who is Vinayaka?
One who has no Nayaka (master) above him is Vinayaka. He is
the master of all. Hence, we offer our prayers to him before
commencing any activity. He is also called Vighneshwara or
Vighnahartaa, the Lord of and destroyer of obstacles. People
mostly worship Him asking for Siddhi, success in
undertakings, and Buddhi, intelligence. He is also the God
of education, knowledge and wisdom, literature, and the fine
arts. The elephant-head of Ganesha is a symbol of
intelligence, discrimination, and wisdom. The elephant is
ever alert and eminently conscious of its surroundings. Its
memory is strong and deep. It trends through thick forest
imprinting huge foot marks on the track. One such print can
subsume the marks left by other animals, both wild and tame.
It moves majestically through. It is a path maker, helping
others without being aware of it, because it is its nature.

The essential purpose of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is
to teach a person to avoid the company of bad people and
cultivate the company of the good. What does the term
Ganapathi signify? 'Ga' means Buddhi or intellect, 'Na'
means Jnana (Wisdom). 'Ganapathi' means one who is the Lord
of the intellect and of wisdom. He is also the Lord of all
Ganas (spiritual entities). Ganas also symbolise the senses.
Ganapathi is thus the Lord of the senses.

Story of Ganesha's origin Perhaps the most popular story regarding Ganesha's
origin is the one derived from the Siva Purana. Mother
Parvati once wanted to take an oil bath and created a boy
from the wheat flour She had applied on Her own body, asking
him to stand as a guard outside while She bathed. In the
meantime Lord Siva returned home to find a stranger at His
door, preventing Him from entering. In anger, Siva cut off
the boy's head, upon which Parvati was stricken with great
grief. In order to console Her, Siva sent out His troops
(Gana) to fetch the head of anyone found sleeping with his
head pointing to the north. They found an elephant sleeping
thus and brought back its head. Siva then attached the
elephantine head to the body of the boy and revived him. He
named the boy Ganapati or commander of His troops, and
granted Him a boon that anyone would have to worship Him
(Ganesha) before beginning any undertaking.

There is another legend explaining Ganesha's origin: Once
upon a time there was an Asura (demon) named Gajasura. He
performed a penance. Easwara, pleased with his penance,
offered him as a boon whatever he desired. Easwara is a
deity who is easily propitiated. Hence he is known as
Bhola-Sankara. When he is pleased with a devotee, He gives
the devotee whatever he asks. Sometimes He gets into a
'difficult' situation, as in the case of Bhasmasura who was
granted by Siva the boon to turn into ashes anyone on whose
head he placed his palm. Immediately after getting the boon
he wanted to test his power by trying to place his hand on
Siva's head itself!

What was the boon Siva gave to Gajasura? The demon desired
that fire should go forth from him continuously so that no
one dare approach him. Siva granted him the boon. Gajasura
continued to do penance and Siva used to appear before him
off and on. Once Siva asked him what he wanted. The demon
said: "I want you to dwell in my stomach." Siva granted the
boon and lodged himself in the demon's stomach. Siva's
consort Parvathi, searched for Siva everywhere and could not
find Him. As a last resort, she went to her brother, Vishnu,
and appealed to Him to trace the whereabouts of her husband.
The all - knowing assured her; "Don't worry, dear sister.
Your husband is Bhola - Sankara. He grants readily whatever
boon his devotee prays for, without considering the
consequences. I suspect that he must have got into some
trouble. I shall find out what has happened."

Vishnu, who is the director of the cosmic play, staged a
small drama. He converted Nandi (Siva's bull) into a
dancing-bull and led it before Gajasura, while himself
assuming the role of a piper playing music on the pipe.
Gajasura was in ecstasy over the dancing performance of the
bull: He asked the piper (Vishnu) what he wanted. The piper
replied: "Can you give what I ask?" "What do you take me
for? I shall readily give you whatever you ask." The piper
said: "If that is so, release from your stomach Siva who is
dwelling there." Gajasura then realised that the piper was
none other than Vishnu Himself, who alone could know the
secret of Siva's presence inside his stomach. He fell at the
feet of Vishnu, released Siva from his stomach and prayed to
Him for a boon. He said: "I have been blessed by many boons
from you. My last request is that all should cherish my
memory by worshipping my head after I pass away." Siva
thereupon brought His son and placed Gajasura's head on him.

Ever since, the tradition has prevailed in Bharat that,
every auspicious function of any kind commences with worship
of Ganapathi. It was the result of Siva's boon to Gajasura.

Vinayaka's StoryVinayaka Chaturthi function is not complete without the
narration of Vinayaka's story. It is said that anyone who
looks at the moon on the night of the Ganesh Chaturthi will
be falsely charged with theft or a similar crime. If someone
inadvertently sees the moon on this night, he/she may remedy
the situation by listening to (or reciting) the story of the
Syamantaka jewel.

Briefly, Satrajit, who secured a jewel syamantaka from
Surya, did not part with it even when Krishna the Lord of
Dwaraka, asked for it saying it would be safe with Him.
Prasena, the brother of Satrajit went out hunting wearing
the jewel but was killed by a lion. Jambavan of Ramayana
fame killed the lion and gave it to his son to play with.
When Prasena did not return, Satrajit falsely accused
Krishna of killing Prasena for the sake of the jewel.
Krishna, in order to remove the stain on His reputation, set
out in search of the jewel and found it in Jambavan's cave,
with his child. Jambavan attacked Krishna thinking Him to be
an intruder who had come to take away the jewel. They fought
each other for 28 days, when Jambavan, his whole body
terribly weakened from the hammering of Krishna's fists,
finally recognised Him as Rama.

As repentance for his having fought Krishna, Jambavan gave
Krishna the jewel and also his daughter Jambavati in
marriage. Krishna returned to Dwaraka with Jambavati and the
jewel, and returned it Satrajit, who in turn repented for
his false accusation. He promptly offered to give Krishna
the jewel and his daughter Sathyabhama in marriage. Krishna
accepted Satyabhama as His wife but did not accept the
jewel.

Vinayaka Chaturthi at Prasanthi NilayamThis festival is celebrated all over India and even in
the overseas in a grand manner. Huge idols of Vinayaka made
of clay are placed in a Pandal and elaborate Pujas (worship)
are performed every day till the idol is taken for
immersion. In Prasanthi Nilayam too, Vinayaka Chaturthi was
celebrated on 7th September 2005 with all grandeur and
exuberance. Devotees in large numbers had gathered in Sai
Kulwant Hall to have a Darshan of their Lord on this
festival day. Bhagawan came to the Hall for Darshan at 7.55
a.m. and took a full round of the Hall. At about 8.40 a.m.,
on Bhagawan's instruction, the students sang Ganesha Stotras
and group songs. Bhajans followed soon after that. After
Arati, Bhagawan retired to His abode. In the evening, the
devotees were doubly blessed since Bhagawan came for a full
round of the Hall in the car and then again He went round
the Hall blessing the devotees. One should see the mirthful
faces of the devotees and students; everyone was craning
their necks to behold the beautiful form of the Lord – to
treasure this blissful form in their hearts. After Bhajans,
Bhagawan retired for the day. Prasadam was distributed to
everyone both in the morning and evening.

Clothes and Watches Distribution8th September 2005 was a red-letter day in the lives of
sub-staff rendering service in different departments of the
Ashram, Institute and Schools. In a solemn function held in
Sai Kulwant Hall, they were blessed with clothes and watches
by Bhagawan. If there is cleanliness and order in the
precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam and various institutions, it
is because of this dedicated band, who works tirelessly day
in and day out. It was a pleasant surprise for them, when
Bhagawan after giving Darshan to devotees, went straight and
moved around, collecting letters and speaking before taking
His seat in front of them. What followed was an
unforgettable session. Two seniors from the group offered
their gratitude on behalf of the entire group, speaking
about all that Bhagawan has done for them over the years.
The first to address the audience was a senior worker from
the accommodation office, who addressed the gathering in
Telugu. He became nostalgic recounting the Prasanthi Nilayam
of those days and how the Ashram has expanded and undergone
rapid change. He was full of gratitude to Bhagawan for
protecting him through the thick and thin of his life. One
after the other, they came and recounted their experiences
extempore. Simplicity and their infinite love for Bhagawan
were writ large on their faces. Many of them spoke with
moist eyes while expressing their heartfelt gratitude to
Bhagawan. One of them even sang Bhagawan's composition "Rama
Kodanda Rama …" melodiously which was well appreciated by
Bhagawan. After the speeches, Bhagawan Himself distributed
clothes and watches to both ladies and gents with His Divine
Hands. At the end, Prasadam was distributed to all of them.
After Bhajans and Arati, Bhagawan left for His Divine Abode.

Students receive the blessings of Bhagawan before the
idols were taken for immersionOn the afternoon of 9th September 2005, students from
the Institute, School, Ashram and Hospitals brought Ganesha
idols in specially decorated vehicles to Sai Kulwant Hall.
The Ganesha idols were taken for immersion on this day. Each
institution was given a slot and the vehicles were neatly
arranged in the Hall. As Bhagawan entered Sai Kulwant Hall,
every institution had two or three representatives holding
fruits and sweets in trays. Bhagawan asked the car to be
stopped near each of them and blessed the students and the
items in the tray.

Words are inadequate to express the ingenuity and
innovativeness of the students. The vehicles were made of
different shapes and sizes like swan-shaped, lotus-shaped,
representing musical instruments, vehicle in the shape of
dove, dolphins making acrobatic dives, in the shape of a
Chinese temple (Pagoda), etc. Some of them were as huge as
the height of Sai Kulwant Hall. After Bhagawan sat in His
chair, he asked the students and staff to circumambulate the
Prasanthi Mandir. As each group passed Bhagawan with their
small Ganesh idols, Swami showered His benedictions on them.
Before leaving Sai Kulwant Hall for immersion, Bhagawan
asked the vehicles to be brought in His view and Arati was
performed in front of each decorated vehicle by the Mandir
priest. The students and staff had another wonderful
opportunity to have the Darshan of Bhagawan in close
quarters and receiving His blessings. As Veda chanting
continued in Sai Kulwant Hall, the students and staff towed
away their vehicles, singing Bhajans and chanting Vedas. The
neatly decorated vehicles with Ganesha idols were then taken
out of Prasanthi Nilayam premises for immersion. Thus, ended
the grand celebrations of Vinayaka Chaturthi festival at
Prasanthi Nilayam.